Pierre F

I'm sorry to "revive" this old thread .... I believe the signature looks like another sword a saw recently (on pictures on a known seller website) 和泉大掾藤原国輝作 (Izumi Daijo Fujiwara Kuniteru Saku) Apparently it is more Edo than Showa. I'm completely new ... and have zero knowledge. I just compare the pictures and believe it is at least very very close. I hope it could help at least about the age of the sword.

Thank you BaZZa for your warm encouragement. I'm going to keep trying to learn as well as I can. Not just out of reciprocity, but because it's important for me to meet nice and interesting people, be sure that if you're visiting the old continent, my door is wide open. I have no swords, but I'm confident on my capacity to listen, to provide something eatable/drinkable and some good coffee. Pierre.

Jacques, You are absolutely right, impossible to learn to read hada on this video... nor on photos and I am sorry if I could have implied otherwise. The only thing I'm trying to "develop" here is my fantasy of understanding better, later, when I would see with my own eyes. Looking at a photo of the Mona Lisa, a sunset or a dish in a restaurant is only intended to develop the fantasy (or memory) while reducing possible frustration (that of not being able to do, touch, see, smell or hear). The field seems to me so vast and rich that it seems impossible to understand in its entirety(to consider that this is possible in a lifetime). It is unfortunate not to be able to learn the history of medieval Japan, learn to read and translate Kanji, understand the technical subtleties of the different blacksmiths through the different eras as well as the physics related to metals... all at the same time. It is easier for me to develop fantasy and passion that way I could develop the motivation for read, seach and study... that in the very long term maybe could become "competence". All this is hope .. time and "Work" in a way to find my "sweet spot" for the motivation/learning curve. I know that i don't know so .. wish me good luck ;p Of course i will be very happy to have any of your advices that could help.

Thank you very mutch for this precisions ! When I saw Hasebe Kunishige's work, I understood your comparison with Pollok. A pictorial parallel and very well seen from my perspective. Your picture is very interesting I believe de Jihada is similar the the one on the Rannow video. Maybe less exuberant... more modest. Apart from the effects of the photo or settings like polishing etc.. One might think that all the potential is already the least asserted. Maybe more of a tool/ functional vision than a complete "artistic"/ historical one. This seems to corroborate your description of his age and evolution. I believe I should do like you and try to push my motivation and luck to see some swords. I'm pretty sure your Monday will be unforgettable. Thank you again and enjoy

Thanks again Lewis and Adam ! After seeing all the Hasebe Kunishige work pictures I found. I give you my first thoughts as a complete neophyte (please be indulgent I'm trying to understand and eventually ,on long term, acquire some "eye") Is is very different from Norishige. I'm trying to understand the "Jigane" and for the pictures I saw from Hasebe Work, my impressions are that the "Jackson Pollock" wondefull feeling is more a work around the "Hamon" techniques that a work on the Tamahagane and the vey first steps of forging process. For what I saw on the pictures, I imagine the typicity of Hasebe could come more from a work on the "last stages" (heat treatment) of sword making. Of course I can imagine both are linked, and I don't know if my impressions make any sense but I share my feeling. I will try to find some Uda school, Norifusa, and Hankei during the week end (nice perspective):P thanks again.

Wonderful ! Thanks for sharing. For a complete neophyte like me it is difficult to understand and appreciate without being able to compare the "before and after" work. Especially with swords from very different eras. All of them like "new" only the tang let me glimpse the ages of these swords...

Thank Lewis B ...I will google Hasebe right know ;P

Thank you Adam, you are right he is very famous ... for obvious reasons... I inquired in the meantime (unfortunately after my post) It is reassuring that certain criteria of artistic quality are objective. This is not always the case in my very humble opinion... for example for architecture... anyway I'll try to find the Swordsmiths with a "similar" style... If you have any names to submit or whose qualities are remarkable, do not hesitate.

Thank you very mutch for your feedback. I was hoping that it could be useful/ interesting/ appreciable for some. I'm pretty crazy about the "jigane" (grain pattern) I'm nor sure if it is the right word. However, do you know a swordsmith "Norishige" (apparently a Masamume student) mentioned in the video bellow : I believe this "Mitsukawa Hada" is absolutely incredibly beautiful... Is there other swordsmith/school have something comparable ?

I'm sorry if you knew this, I found it fascinating.

thank you !

Thank you Brian ! I believe the translator and Word assistance is the "perfect" wizard here ;P

Just for information, browsing the forum, I went to the FAQ section --> Care and Maintenance section --> How to disassemble and examine a sword the link there (http://www.nbthk-ab.org/Etiquette.htm) is broken. I believe the new website is http://www.nbthk-ab2.org But I'm not sure if i can find the same "excellent article" there and if it is the same website. Sorry to bother, but because I know nothing ...I ask Pierre

Hello everyone, I obviously just registered on this forum and wanted to tell you that I'm glad I did. As part of the arduous task of developing my (very, very modest) knowledge of Japanese swords, I often came to this forum. After consulting it countless times, it is obviously ,thanks to its members, a mine of knowledge and nice place for talking and learn about Nihonto. I have seen thousands of pictures of swords but very little in real life. A few years ago I saw in a museum a Japanese sword that I never tired of looking at. A few weeks later I visited the "Cluny Museum" in Paris and when I saw the European medieval swords, they appeared to me like old heavy and rusty nails. The technical and artistic domination of Japanese in making swords seems to me to be dazzling. Only right combination of passion, talent and a the "long term" can lead to that kind of artistic, historical an technical perfection. I believe passion is the only thing we need and I hope to share this here with you. PS: I'm 43, live in Switzerland (the French part), have 2 kids, many passions (my kids and wife, food, piano, history...) (Please accept my apologies for my very sad and poor English)

It's fascinating. I didn't know, I'm pretty sure I didn't understand everything. I would read it again. thanks OceanoNox.